Time to Make Some (or All!) of The Things

Oh, my maker friends, it is that time of the year - November! Time for all the best food, best drink, and - most importantly - best making. It is a time we get ready for the annual gift-making-palooza known as the Indie GAL (and I am all ready to sign up once again as a participating designer), as well as perhaps make a thing or two or five for our very selves.

In the spirit of the last suggestion, I am hosting a fun CAL on my Instagram account for my latest design, featured in the December issue of Crochet Magazine - the Frosted Berries Shawl. Since this shawl was a collaboration between myself (the design) and Crochet Magazine's editor, Jackie Daugherty (the hand-dyed yarn), we are teaming up for this Instagram CAL. 

I will be, starting today, November 13th, posting weekly Wednesday updates, tips, and answering any questions makers have about the design. Crochet Magazine will be providing some prizes, the first of which will be given away right off the bat - an electronic copy of the magazine to one lucky winner. See the deets below and link to the post:

View this post on Instagram

Attention all my crafty maker friends! I am so thrilled to announce a festive maker a-long right here in my Instagram space. We will be working up my design, the Frosted Berries Shawl, made with hand-dyed yarn - thanks Jackie Daugherty, editor of @crochetworldmag - and featured in its current December issue. This shawl is so warm and cozy compliments of @berrocoyarn's Ultra Alpaca - it is the perfect project to work up during these upcoming cold winter evenings (and yes, the snow has already started to fall in some places!). * * To kick things off, I will be giving away a digital copy of the December issue of Crochet World Magazine to a lucky winner who wants to (hopefully) join us in our merry maker event. To be eligible, simply leave a comment on this post with potential color combinations you would use in your own Frosted Berries shawl between now and next Tuesday, November 19th, and do make certain you follow this account. I will pick and announce a winmer next Wednesday, November 20th, from all of the unique original comments received. (and this giveaway is not affiliated in any way with Instagram) * * Each Wednesday between now and December 18th, I will be here posting my own progress, as well as answer any questions makers might have. This shawl is a fun make, and the edging is technique-rich to keep everyone's interest. At the end of the a-long, I will be giving away two prize packages from all of the finished shawls. I will have more to say on the prizes a little later in the a+long. * * My goal between now and next Wednesday: get my own yarn and dye materials so I can attempt to dye my own yarn! #voiedevie #crochetinspiration #crochetersaroundtheworld #tunisiancrochet #indiedesigner

A post shared by Voie de Vie (@denisevoiedevie) on Nov 13, 2019 at 7:33am PST

I'll be picking a winner from all unique comments received between now and next Tuesday, November 19th, and I'll make a winning announcement with next Wednesday's Instagram post.

I hope to see some wonderful color combinations from makers out there, so start plotting your color choices. While Jackie dyed the jasmine rice colorway of squishy Berroco Ultra Alpaca, I am going to try my hand at a little home dying with a different base. Stay tuned for details next week ... as well as how I fare in this, my initial home dyeing foray.  

And Boom! A New Design is Out in the Crafty Wild

Well I may have all things personal book test on my mind, but I am reminded that I have also been busy with other third-party published designs - and the Crochet World blog today sneaked my shawl design featured in its upcoming December edition - the Frosted Berries Shawl.

This design started out with an idea to dye the yarn for it - from Jackie Daugherty, the magazine's editor. Using the winter white colorway of Berroco's Ultra Alpaca and Cushing's acid dyes, Jackie worked up these lovely hand-dyed skein (and you can, too - there's a whole article on the process in the issue!).The colorways turned out superbly, and it is squishy Ultra Alpaca - so the rest of the design process was a breeze. Not only is this shawl big and warm as all get-out for the upcoming winter season here in the northern hemisphere, but it is fun to work up. The main shawl body is an easy repeat with increase rows interspersed, and the show-stopping edge is a combination of regular and tunisian crochet, perfect for adventurous beginner tunisian crocheters.

I'll be announcing a little later (once the magazine actually hits newsstands at the end of the month) how you might be able to win a copy of it for your very self, so stay tuned. However, since this is slow fashion October, I hope you might consider a little hand-dyeing experiment of your own.

And keep those hooks at the ready to make yourself a great project with your beautiful brand-new hand-dyed yarn!